Painting a vehicle question

if you wet sand is best then wash off you can use 400 grit then if you are painting with two step you will need a respirator. you may not need to sand to put on clear coat unless you are waiting a couple of days between base and clear coat.

If additional coats are needed, do I continue to go up from 400 grit or use 400 grit everytime?

You can use 600 for an even better finish.

I have orange peel in my final coat without clear coat what can I do to get it smooth and glossy? Thanks.

Looking good, wait until its completely dry then color sand it with 800 and then shoot the clear coat.

It still has some orange peel and I sanded through some areas of paint. I am going to shoot one more coat of paint than clear coat. My question is will a few coats of clear smooth out orange peel?

most body shops don't sand between color and clear they sand after but I fyou must and want the peel out sand it then clear it then sand again. You may be putting the paint on to heavy causing the problem. you should really check with a body shop guy on this. As mechanics we fix cars not getting into much like specialty stuff like body repair. Especially now a days with the types of paint that are on the market

The paint could be to dry as well, turn the paint up on the gun or the air down. Please give us a picture when finished. I would like to see it.

Best, Ken

Here is before and after shots. Can I wait about a week or so to clear? This is marine topdide Alkyd paint, or not clear.

as long as the paint is dry you can clear it

From the pictures the paint is too dry. Adjust the gun to have more paint and turn the air down a little, if the fan is too wide it will cause this too. You want the paint to flow on there, it is an art. But no matter what you can always color sand and buff when done it will look great.

What be recommended sanding grade before polish? Thanks.

Yes, 800, sand smooth then buff and wax, please send pictures when done, we would like to see it

Best, Ken

I have 2-3 coats of rustoleum automotive clear coat over paint, isn't 800 to course to burn through my clear to fast, or can I use 1500 to 2000 than Polish ?

800 is fine prior to polishing.

Thanks

Did you get rid of the orange peel problem Roy? From my experience, that could also be an issue with how you prepped the body for paint.

The orange still exist, I waxed and buffed it smooth out orange peel some.

The images didn't turn out can you reload them?

Sorry I took long to reply. Had problems uploading. I'm little disappointed because paint looks spray painted. Currently, I am experimenting with car wax to get better gloss. Any ideas will be appreciated thanks.

Color sand and buff keep at it and it will look better